To freeze or not to freeze: decision regret and satisfaction following elective oocyte cryopreservation

Greenwood, Eleni A.; Pasch, Lauri A.; Hastie, Jordan; Cedars, Marcelle I.; Huddleston, Heather G.

doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2018.02.127

Cited by 88 publications

(76 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Appropriate counseling is essential to help manage expectations, and poor perception of the adequacy of counseling has been shown to increase decision regret following SEF. 9 In our study, the 1 woman to "definitely" experience regret cited unsuccessful pregnancies and the financial expense as being the primary reasons. Despite freezing 18…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 58%

“…The first study to assess regret following SEF identified no regret in a series of 65 women . However, a more recent and detailed study in >200 women used the validated decision regret scale, and demonstrated 49% had mild‐to‐moderate regret following SEF, acknowledging that regret was more likely if low numbers of oocytes were stored . This was not observed in our population, where the mean total number of oocytes stored in those who experienced regret was slightly higher than in those who did not experience regret, albeit not to a significant extent (10.9 vs 10.0 P = 0.68).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 65%

“…Our study highlights that counseling before SEF in this cohort was perceived favorably; 61% felt that the information provided with regards to their fertility was “good” or “excellent”. Appropriate counseling is essential to help manage expectations, and poor perception of the adequacy of counseling has been shown to increase decision regret following SEF . In our study, the 1 woman to “definitely” experience regret cited unsuccessful pregnancies and the financial expense as being the primary reasons.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 71%

“…An initial study demonstrated in a sample of 65 women that no women experienced regret following SEF . Conversely, a more recent study in the USA identified that almost half (49%) of women experienced mild‐to‐moderate regret after undergoing SEF, with adequacy of information before the process and perceived chances of a live birth significantly associated with regret.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Perceptions, outcomes, and regret following social egg freezing in the UK; a cross‐sectional survey

Jones

Kasaven

L’Heveder

et al. 2019

Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand

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Introduction Social egg freezing enhances reproductive autonomy by empowering women with the capacity to delay their childbearing years, while preserving the opportunity to maintain biological relation with subsequent offspring. However, age‐related obstetric complications, economic implications and the risk of unsuccessful future treatment make it a controversial option. Despite the upward trend in women electively cryopreserving their eggs, there is limited data about the women’s perceptions, having undergone the process. The aim of this study was to investigate the motivations of women who have undergone social egg freezing, identify their perceptions following treatment, and assess potential feelings of regret. Material and methods This cross‐sectional survey, based at a fertility clinic in the UK, used an electronic questionnaire to assess the motivations and perceptions of women who underwent social egg freezing between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2018. Results One hundred questionnaires were distributed, and 85 women responded (85% response rate). The most frequent reason for freezing oocytes was not having a partner with 56 (70%) women saying it “definitely” influenced their decision. The majority of women (83%; n = 68) knew there was a chance of treatment failure in the future and that a live birth could not be guaranteed. More than half (n = 39; 51%) disagreed or strongly disagreed that the 10‐year UK storage limit is fair. One‐third of respondents (n = 17; 33%) felt the storage time should be indefinite and 29% (n = 15) believed it should be up to the age of 50. Twenty percent (n = 15) of the women who underwent social egg freezing have successfully had a baby or are currently pregnant, half (n = 8; 53%) of whom conceived spontaneously and a quarter (n = 4; 26%) used their stored oocytes. In all, 91% (n = 73) had no regrets over their decision to undergo social egg freezing. Conclusions We demonstrate herein important and novel insights into the motivations and perceptions of women from a UK population who have undergone social egg freezing. Despite potential physical, psychological, and financial burdens, only a small minority of women experience regret after social egg freezing. We also highlight clear discontent with the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority storage limit among social egg freezers in the UK.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 58%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 65%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 71%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Perceptions, outcomes, and regret following social egg freezing in the UK; a cross‐sectional survey

Jones

Kasaven

L’Heveder

et al. 2019

Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand

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“…Even after thorough information, however, many women state that freezing is better that doing nothing, and that they would regret it if not (35,36). The women in the study by Gold et al (35) also stated that they would have frozen earlier if they had been aware of the possibility.…”

Section: Social Egg Freezingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social freezing of oocytes: a means to take control of your fertility

Wennberg

2020

Upsala Journal of Medical Sciences

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In the last few decades, there have been tremendous developments of assisted reproductive technologies, but the outcome of in vitro fertilization is highly dependent on the age of the oocyte. The introduction of vitrification offers a possibility to freeze eggs proactively in younger years and use them at later ages, also called social egg freezing. Knowledge about age-related fertility decline is insufficient among many women, and there is an overoptimistic trust that in vitro fertilization can overcome this. The awareness of proactive egg freezing is limited, both among doctors and in the general population. This review aims at increasing the knowledge about proactive egg freezing and offers a means to advise women correctly. It deals with national guidelines, the best age and optimal number of eggs to freeze, and the chance to succeed. Creating more public awareness about age-linked fertility decline and elective egg freezing may help women reproduce at their own paceto take control of their fertility.

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